Former Montville WPCA worker released from probation

A former Montville town employee convicted in 2007 of embezzling $51,000 from the Water Pollution Control Authority had her probation ended on Monday despite failing to repay more than $55,000 in expenses the town ran up on her case.

A former Montville town employee convicted in 2007 of embezzling $51,000 from the Water Pollution Control Authority had her probation ended on Monday despite failing to repay more than $55,000 in expenses the town ran up on her case.

Montville WPCA Administrator Brian Lynch said he was disappointed by the court decision. “We certainly wanted the money to continue to be repaid.”

Linda Rivera, 57, of Willimantic, appeared in front of Judge Susan Handy in New London Superior Court.

Rivera was the former deputy administrator of the WPCA. She began working at the authority in 1988. According to an audit, Rivera embezzled $51,536 between 2003 and 2005. She repaid the full amount of the money she stole before she was convicted in May 2007.

Rivera was sentenced to three years, suspended after three months in prison, plus five years’ probation. One condition of her probation was an order to repay $55,760 in additional costs the town ran up.

The costs included the salary Rivera received while on administrative leave between May 2006, when she was arrested, and December 2006, when she was fired; the cost of a forensic audit; and Montville’s legal fees.

Prosecutor Lawrence Tytla said that Rivera does not have the money to repay the town. She repaid $25 per month while she was on probation for a total of $1,125, he said. The end of her probation ends the repayments.

Rivera was represented in court by Public Defender Bruce Sturman. Public defenders represent people who can’t afford a private attorney.

“Montville is not happy but understands,” Tytla said in court.

“I’m very sorry,” Rivera told the judge.

Handy said Rivera violated her probation because she failed to repay the full amount she owed. At the same time, the judge declared the probation to be at an end.

Montville overhauled the WPCA’s finances in the wake of the scandal. The authority collects money from water and sewer users, and Rivera had been the only person who handled its finances.

“There are more checks and balances in place that weren’t there before,” Montville Mayor Ron McDaniel said.

The WPCA’s financial records are shared with the town daily, Lynch said. “There’s transparency.”